Putnam High Yield Subaccount

Fund description

The subaccount seeks high current income by investing principally in corporate bonds rated below investment grade. It offers the potential for higher income than investment-grade bond funds in exchange for the increased risk that accompanies high-yield bond investments. The subaccount is diversified across a range of industries and the management team conducts intensive research to select companies that appear capable of servicing their outstanding debt obligations.

Sales story

Seeking a high level of income for investorsIncome-focused: The portfolio managers strive for a higher level of income than most bonds offer by investing in higher-yielding, lower rated corporate bonds.Focus on performance: The managers can invest across a range of industries and companies, and can adjust the fund's holdings to capitalize on market opportunities.Leading research: The fund's managers, supported by Putnam's fixed-income research division, analyze a range of bonds to build a diversified portfolio.

Daily pricing
as of 05/24/19

Lipper ranking ‡
as of 04/30/19

Category: High Yield Funds

Percentile ranking

Rank/Funds in category

10 yrs.

64%

49/76

1 yr.

61%

66/108

3 yrs.

40%

41/103

5 yrs.

59%

59/100

Maturity detail includes only cash bonds and cash equivalents.

Lower rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Variable annuities are long-term investments designed for retirement purposes. Withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty.

Credit qualities are shown as a percentage of net assets. A bond rated Baa or higher (Prime-3 or higher, for short-term debt) is considered investment grade. This chart reflects the highest security rating provided by one or more of Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch. Short-term cash bonds rated A-1+ are included in the AAA-rating category. Ratings and portfolio credit quality will vary over time. Credit quality includes the fixed-income portion of the portfolio. Derivative instruments, including currency forwards, are only included to the extent of any unrealized gain or loss on such instruments and are shown in the not-rated category. Cash is also shown in the not-rated category. The fund itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.

‡ Lipper is an industry research firm whose rankings are based on total return performance, vary over time, and do not reflect the effects of sales charges. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Quick facts
as of 04/30/19

Fiscal Year End

December

Asset Class

Putnam Allstate Advisor Plus

Subaccount Status

Open to new investors

Number of issues

506

Turnover (fiscal year end)

31%

Net Assets

$187M

Inception Date

02/01/88

Performance

Performance
as of 03/31/19

Annual

Cumulative

Annualized Performance

Last Quarter

Yearto Date

1 yr.

3 yrs.

5 yrs.

10 yrs.

Life ofsubaccount

Restated performance

Unit Value

6.92%

6.92%

2.48%

5.66%

1.93%

7.96%

5.50%

Standardized

-1.08%

-1.08%

-5.52%

3.22%

0.79%

7.96%

5.50%

With optional enhanced death benefit

Unit Value

6.88%

6.88%

2.32%

5.51%

1.77%

7.80%

5.34%

Standardized

-1.12%

-1.12%

-5.68%

3.05%

0.63%

7.80%

5.34%

Actual performance

Unit Value

6.92%

6.92%

2.48%

5.66%

1.93%

7.96%

4.26%

Standardized

-1.08%

-1.08%

-5.52%

3.22%

0.79%

7.96%

4.26%

With optional enhanced death benefit

Unit Value

6.88%

6.88%

2.32%

5.51%

1.77%

7.80%

4.10%

Standardized

-1.12%

-1.12%

-5.68%

3.05%

0.63%

7.80%

4.10%

Cumulative Performance

Last Quarter

Yearto Date

1 yr.

3 yrs.

5 yrs.

10 yrs.

Life ofsubaccount

Restated performance

Unit Value

6.92%

6.92%

2.48%

17.98%

10.01%

115.07%

430.45%

Standardized

-1.08%

-1.08%

-5.52%

9.98%

4.01%

115.07%

430.45%

With optional enhanced death benefit

Unit Value

6.88%

6.88%

2.32%

17.44%

9.18%

111.83%

405.86%

Standardized

-1.12%

-1.12%

-5.68%

9.44%

3.18%

111.83%

405.86%

Actual performance

Unit Value

6.92%

6.92%

2.48%

17.98%

10.01%

115.07%

121.48%

Standardized

-1.08%

-1.08%

-5.52%

9.98%

4.01%

115.07%

121.48%

With optional enhanced death benefit

Unit Value

6.88%

6.88%

2.32%

17.44%

9.18%

111.83%

115.14%

Standardized

-1.12%

-1.12%

-5.68%

9.44%

3.18%

111.83%

115.14%

Annual Performance at NAV

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

47.78%

12.22%

0.13%

14.15%

6.13%

-0.07%

-6.87%

13.70%

5.27%

-5.61%

With optional enhanced death benefit

47.56%

12.05%

-0.02%

13.97%

5.97%

-0.22%

-7.01%

13.53%

5.11%

-5.75%

Restated performance

Monthly
as of 03/31/19

Unit Value

--

Standardized

--

YTD
as of 05/24/19

Unit Value

7.73%

Standardized

-0.27%

With optional enhanced death benefit

Monthly
as of 03/31/19

Unit Value

--

Standardized

--

YTD
as of 05/24/19

Unit Value

7.67%

Standardized

-0.33%

Unit values and performance information shown apply to the specific annuity product listed, not the underlying Putnam Variable Trust fund. This information should not be used by investors who hold an interest in Putnam Variable Trust funds through a different annuity or other variable product. The unit values and performance of other variable products that offer Putnam Variable Trust funds may be higher or lower due to product charges and expenses or other factors.

Data is historical. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your units.

Returns shown for the subaccounts for periods before their inception are derived from the historical performance of the underlying fund, adjusted to reflect the mortality, expense risk, and surrender charges applicable to this product and do not factor in the annual $30 contract maintenance fee. Additional riders and options for insurance-related charges will increase expenses and lower returns. Please see the prospectus for details. For a portion of the period, subaccounts may have limited expenses, without which returns would have been lower.

Putnam Allstate variable annuities are flexible-premium deferred variable annuities issued by Allstate Life Insurance Company (Allstate Life); underwritten by Allstate Distributors, L.L.C., both of Northbrook, IL; and sold through registered representatives or bank employees who are licensed insurance agents. Please check for availability in your specific state.

These policies have limitations and are sold by prospectus only. The prospectus contains details on the variable annuity, the subaccounts, contract features, fees, expenses, and other pertinent information.

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund before investing. For a prospectus containing this and other information for any variable annuity or variable life product that invests in Putnam Variable Trust funds, contact your financial advisor for a contract prospectus and prospectus for the underlying funds. You may also call Talcott Resolution at 1-800-521-0538 or Allstate at 1-800-390-1277. Read the prospectuses carefully before investing.

Lower rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Variable annuities are long-term investments designed for retirement purposes. Withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty.

Credit qualities are shown as a percentage of net assets. A bond rated Baa or higher (Prime-3 or higher, for short-term debt) is considered investment grade. This chart reflects the highest security rating provided by one or more of Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch. Short-term cash bonds rated A-1+ are included in the AAA-rating category. Ratings and portfolio credit quality will vary over time. Credit quality includes the fixed-income portion of the portfolio. Derivative instruments, including currency forwards, are only included to the extent of any unrealized gain or loss on such instruments and are shown in the not-rated category. Cash is also shown in the not-rated category. The fund itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.

Lipper is an industry research firm whose rankings are based on total return performance, vary over time, and do not reflect the effects of sales charges. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Spread duration is displayed in years and reflects the contribution by sector to the portfolio's total spread duration with the exception of the Treasury and Interest-rate swap sectors where effective duration is displayed. Spread duration estimates the price sensitivity of a
specific sector or asset class to a 100 basis-point movement, 1%, (either widening or narrowing) in its yield spread relative to Treasuries. Effective duration provides a measure of a portfolio's interest-rate sensitivity. The longer a portfolio's duration, the more sensitive
the portfolio is to shifts in the interest rates. Allocations may not total 100% of net assets because the table includes the notional value of derivatives (the economic value for purposes of calculating periodic payment obligations), in addition to the market value of securities.

Portfolio allocations will vary over time. The unclassified sector (where applicable) includes exchange traded funds and other securities not able to be classified by sector.

Maturity detail includes only cash bonds and cash equivalents.

Lower rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Variable annuities are long-term investments designed for retirement purposes. Withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty.

Credit qualities are shown as a percentage of net assets. A bond rated Baa or higher (Prime-3 or higher, for short-term debt) is considered investment grade. This chart reflects the highest security rating provided by one or more of Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch. Short-term cash bonds rated A-1+ are included in the AAA-rating category. Ratings and portfolio credit quality will vary over time. Credit quality includes the fixed-income portion of the portfolio. Derivative instruments, including currency forwards, are only included to the extent of any unrealized gain or loss on such instruments and are shown in the not-rated category. Cash is also shown in the not-rated category. The fund itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.

Top Industry Sectors
as of 04/30/19

Consumer cyclicals

18.88%

Communication services

12.71%

Basic materials

12.26%

Energy

11.97%

Financials

9.85%

Health care

8.85%

Capital goods

6.84%

Technology

5.80%

Net Cash

4.98%

Other

7.86%

Consumer staples

4.84%

Utilities

2.77%

Transportation

0.25%

0

Country Allocation
as of 04/30/19

United States

84.25%

Canada

5.25%

Luxembourg

1.96%

United Kingdom

1.95%

Netherlands

1.51%

Ireland

1.20%

France

0.91%

Switzerland

0.71%

Bermuda

0.45%

Other

1.81%

Mexico

0.45%

Israel

0.42%

Indonesia

0.31%

Norway

0.26%

Cayman Islands

0.13%

Jamaica

0.12%

Germany

0.11%

European Community

0.01%

0

Expenses

Sales Charges/Fees

Breakpoint

Sales Charge

Dealer Allowance

CDSC Liab

$0 - $0

0.00%

0.00%

N

Maturity detail includes only cash bonds and cash equivalents.

Lower rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Variable annuities are long-term investments designed for retirement purposes. Withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty.

Credit qualities are shown as a percentage of net assets. A bond rated Baa or higher (Prime-3 or higher, for short-term debt) is considered investment grade. This chart reflects the highest security rating provided by one or more of Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch. Short-term cash bonds rated A-1+ are included in the AAA-rating category. Ratings and portfolio credit quality will vary over time. Credit quality includes the fixed-income portion of the portfolio. Derivative instruments, including currency forwards, are only included to the extent of any unrealized gain or loss on such instruments and are shown in the not-rated category. Cash is also shown in the not-rated category. The fund itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.

‡ Lipper is an industry research firm whose rankings are based on total return performance, vary over time, and do not reflect the effects of sales charges. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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